The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-04-08
Randall on the Work Of Congress,

he said:
suppose I may be allowed to speak
more particularly of the Congress OF
the United States which has Just ex
pired-a Congress which has had the
advantage of Democratic Executive.
We have not-l speak as one of the
members-we have not been spared
much by the press, and yet, while many
things have been done which | do not
like and other things have not been
done which should have liked to have
seen done, yet think, upon the whole
when it is fairly stated, that the Con-
gress which has just closed is not en-
titled TO that measure of criticism which
has been given to it.
The Congress curbed the grasping
spirit of corporate monopoly and it re-
turned to the public domain millions of
acres of land unearned by the railroad
companies, known as land grants, and
l may be permitted to recite few of
its enactments, which it seems to me
recommend it to public favor. 1t
passed the act providing for the per-
formance of the duties of the president
and vice-president whenever by reason
of removal by death or other cause
there should be vacancy in the presi-
dental and vice presidential office. And
1t is fixed that the succession should
attach to that party which had at the
previous election commended itself to
the people by the selection of those two
Offices, so that now if great calamity
should come upon the American peo-
pie from any cause in the vacancy of
the Office of president or vice-president
the party which chose them would
have the secretary of state to take the
place, whose views would be in har-
mony with those of the officers whose
positions we're made vacant.
Again this Congress provided that
there should never again be a contro
versary over an electoral count 1t de-
termined that the states should decide
who the proper electors are and that
the advice of Congress should be mere
ly ministerial, and it has struck from
the statute book the Tenure of Office
bill, which was enacted to prevent An.
drew johnson from makiog appoint
ments to Office, 1t was unconstitution-
al, in my Judgment, when it was passed
and we can congratulate oursel, es that
the power of the President in connect.
ion with the removal from office is now
absolute and without the least restrict.
ion.
We have, as l said, placed in the
public domain open to homesteads,
millions of acres of land. We declared
forfeited the Atlantic and Pacific Rail
road grants we declared forfeited the
Baton Rouge and Vicksburg; we de-
clared forfeited all unearned lands ac-
cordins to certain restrictions and the
result of it is that more than 6O,OOO,-
900 Of public domain have been thrown
open to those who want to occupy
item for homesteads.
WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR LABOR.
Nor has labor been forgotten. We
have my friends--you will pardon me
it refer with some particularity-we
have passed an act to prohibit the
hiring and contracting of labor of the
United States prisoners. We have
passed an act to prohibit the importa-
tion and emigration of foreigners and
allens under contract or agreement
We have passed an act to permit the
incorporation of national trades unions.
permitting labor TO organize, as it has
right to organize, in its self-defense
and in favor of its own bet'ernent
And we have.my friends, passed an act
to make inquiry as to the condition of
the finances of all Pacific roads and all
roads which have received grants of
land from the United States. What
has been its effect! We find that one
OF the principal roads has already de.
termined to make provision for the
annual payment of the interest on
those bonds due to the United States,
and provides way for the ultimate
liquidation of the principal of that
debt,
These are some of the things we
have done. We have, my friends,
provided for bringing suits in the
United States in a court of inquiry,
so that every claim that is just against
the United States may 60 to the judic-
ial tribunal to determine the facts in
stead OF going into the halls of Con-
gress and engaging lobbyists there to
see that they are passed. We have,
moreover, passed an act to authorize
the President of the United States to
protect and defend he rights of Ameri.
can fishing and other vessels, trading
with Canada and other countries. and
my friend here, the Alderman, will, |
am sure, appreciate the act to which l
am now about to refer-we have pass
ed an act pensioning the Mexican
heroes and we passed an act increasing
the pensions of one-armed and one
legged soldiers and sailors.
We passed an act TO provide for the
redemption OF trade dollars upon the
principle that no government had any
right to issue any coin or anything il
the semblance of money which that
government was not willing to take
back at IFS face value [Cheers. ! And
next, my friends, we passed an act
known as the Interstate Commerce act.
through which we will endeavor TO
bring about better arrangement in the
transportation of the products of the
United States. We may have to alter
that act, but we will not do it until ex-
perience has shown wherein it must be
changed, and am glad to say that so
Tar as | know the railroad companies
Of the United States have in every di.
rection agreed and determined to give
i fair execution.
WHAT HE CLAIMS FOR HIS PARTY.
And now, my friends, | want to say |
little more in this connection, and / |
'ay IT with great respect to any who |
nay differ with me in politics, for be-
ieve that all p,rties are of pure motive
md honest purpose, aud, therefore, if |
here be such here at this moment of
'ur celebration, am quite sure that
hey will pardon a little exhortatiop.
(ou and /, Mr.. President, remember
ow our opponents four years ago said
hat the Democratic party should not
Q trusted with the administration of